Using Clay in Therapeutic Conversations with Children and Teenagers

Overview

On this day, you’ll learn how children and teenagers who struggle to articulate feelings about important life events, can use clay to symbolically shape their inner world. Moulding in such a deeply tactile way enables children to enter flow states whilst supporting safe exploration of what matters in their lives.

Additionally, through experiential work on the day, you will have first-hand experience of how the hands-on nature of clay work is very grounding and calming, helping to reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Group clay sessions foster cooperation, communication, and delightful peer interaction. The shared creative process can also promote empathy and understanding among children.

Overall, clay therapy can support emotional regulation, sensory integration alongside processing of life events, making it a valuable tool in both therapeutic and educational environments for children of various ages and abilities.

Please note: These days are very much an introduction to the use of the therapeutic arts to enhance your listening skills and creative ways of connecting with children and young people. If you're interested in further training, please see TISUK and IATE for professional programs.

About the presenter

Ellie Baker

Expert in arts therapy and child psychotherapy, supervision, illustration, parenting.

Integrative Arts Psychotherapist/Supervisor (UKCP). Work included: Lead Supervisor - Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (Education), Clinical Lead Foster Care Support Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Treatment/Therapy Service. Head of Psychological Health and Wellbeing, Wave Multi Academy Trust. Artist Lead for Arts Lab Project (secondary education settings), Therapeutic Lead Attune Research Project (ACEs/Trauma-Informed Practice Oxford, Falmout and Kent Universities). Delivered parenting courses for decades. Chair for The Centre for Child Mental Health for 15 years.

About the venue

1 Danes Yard, Sugar House Island, Stratford, London, E15 2QL

1 Danes Yard, the home of the Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education (IATE), is located in the heart of the stunning creative quarter known as Sugar House Island. Offering an inspiring selection of creative event spaces, it has been carefully designed to create a unique and stimulating environment for your event.